Thursday, July 23, 2009

I was feeling a little down yesterday. I was laid off in January and the job market is getting worse and worse. Ocassionally it gets the best of me. : (

Around 6:00 last night I decided to check my email, and received some news that cheered my right back up!!

Several months ago I came across an article by Harley Brown in the International Artists Magazine. I love his articles. He is, to say the least, amazing and his articles are always interesting and informative. So he had a contest to draw his last photo, of a lighthouse.

I took the challenge and sent in my drawing, and I actually won! The editor of International Artist Magazine wrote me a nice little email informing me that I won and said of the hundreds of entries from all over the world mine stood out. How nice is that to hear?

I will receive the original photo signed by the master himself, Harley Brown, as well as having my drawing published in the next August/September, # 68 issue of International Artists Magazine.

Here is Harley's photo-And here is my drawing - I used graphite powder on this one. I'm in the process of doing another drawing with the graphite powder. The more I use it the more I like it, and the more comfortable I get with it. It has a different- "looser" look.

Congratulations, well done indeed. This is a great drawing and I really like the addition of the 'water' in front of the rocks.

Your use of graphite powder is probably similiar to what I call my 'graphite/carbon farm'. I cover an area of a piece of drawing paper with the medium I want to use (carbon, graphite, or charcoal) and then pick it up with a stump or brush and apply it to the paper. I sometimes use a small chamois square or a piece of felt also to apply the color to the drawing.

Marsha, Thank you- I actually take my graphite powder and add a little water to it. I then paint in my background, usually giving it several coats. I usually give myself a rough estimate of where things will fall on my paper and add extra darks where I think I will need them and try to stay lighter in spots.

It is not quite like working with watercolor, usually when I try to add a second coat it quickly picks up the graphite on the previous coat. I'm still experimenting with it. Hopefully one day I will master it.

After it is fully dry you can erase back to white - It's a bit difficult to get super white, but if you use an electric eraser it works pretty good. I always try to use a really heavy 300lb paper- it's very forgiving.

I've seen the way you get those beautiful soft gradients with your "graphite/carbon farm" I have read many of your tutorials - very helpful! Thanks again Marsha.

Well woo-hoo Jennie - congratulations!!! What an accomplishment and an honour. This is a wonderful piece and I agree with Marsha - I too like the addition of the water. And wow - to be published in the magazine, how cool is that? I shall be sure to look for it in the issue.

Also, congratulations on taking the time to send in your work. I am sure a lot of people would have thought the competition would be stiff, the odds not great, etc. Yet sometimes it is our turn to shine! So good for you for daring to risk, believe and to go for the seemingly impossible. May this be the beginning of new blessings in your life. You go girl!

Teresa Thank you, I actually did feel that it would be stiff competition and I did think my odds were not great, and I had not expected to win. It was several months ago I had sent in my drawing and had long since forgotten about it, assuming I had not won. I think that made it even more fun when I read the email!

Thanks Dean, This was a fun little drawing for me- It was different for me to use someone else's reference. I didn't fret over it, and over think it the way I do with some of my own reference. I think I need to do that more often!!

I also think the use of graphite powder gives it a different look than my regular drawings- It has a more painterly look. I am still working with the graphite powder- trying to master it.

BTW - Thanks for your help and info on sealers a while back, it was very helpful!! I appreciate you taking the time to get back to me : )

Jennie Norris

Please visit my website!

Thank you to all who have taken the time to follow my daily "or usually monthly" updates. I appreciate the support and welcome any and all comments. Here is a link to my website with my full portfolio. Cheers!